Be skeptical of plan

Opinion: Congress should not impose new taxes without cutting expenses, balance budget

The standard government answer to revenue needs always seems to be to raise taxes, not decrease expenses. Raising taxes on corporations, inheritances and high-income earners under the guise of helping the middle class should be viewed with skepticism. Congress should not impose new taxes or increase current taxes to fund new entitlement programs (such as tuition-free community college) without first cutting expenditures and balancing the budget.

Two years of free community college should be limited to STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) that offer employment growth and increased earnings. Instead of raising taxes to pay for free college for everyone with no measurable return on investment, Congress should offer tax credits to students or their families for successful completion of STEM majors.